Geographical location of Sri Lanka. Geography of the Republic of Sri Lanka: nature, climate, population, flora and fauna Minerals of Sri Lanka

Island state Sri Lanka, which means “Blessed Land”, is a real tourist paradise in the middle of the ocean.

Capital of Sri Lanka?

The official capital of Sri Lanka is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, where the parliament and supreme court are located.
The actual capital is Colombo. Colombo is the seat of government and is also home to the residence of the President.

Area: 65,610 km²

Population: 21,675,648 people

National composition?

The ethnic composition of Sri Lanka is multinational. Among the population of Sri Lanka you can find representatives of such nationalities as Sinhalese, Tamils, burghers (descendants of the Portuguese and Dutch) and Moors (descendants of Arab traders).

Official language?

The languages ​​spoken in Sri Lanka are mainly Indo-Aryan, Dravidian and Austronesian. Official languages are Sinhala and Tamil, English.

Currency?

The Sri Lankan rupee is the national currency of the state. It is equal to 100 cents. Banknotes in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 rupees are in circulation; there are also coins in the country in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 cents and 1,2,5 rupees. International payments accepted credit cards. When importing foreign currency into the country, a declaration procedure is required.

Timezone?

Time zone in Sri Lanka is UTC+05:30. All Sri Lanka's territory belongs to the same time zone.

Climate?

The climate in Sri Lanka is tropical. The weather changes with the arrival of the monsoons.

All about food

Sri Lankan cuisine is rich in flavors and spices, much like Indian cuisine. Sri Lankan cuisine still has its own characteristics, which will undoubtedly attract many tourists. In preparing their dishes they mainly use fish, tropical fruits, a lot of herbs and spices.

True gourmets simply must try it national cuisine of this island:

Stringhoppers– a popular breakfast on the island that you must try, it will surprise you with its spiciness. This dish is a delicious vermicelli, which is prepared from rice flour and various spicy mixtures are added, which you should definitely try.

Hoppers is a unique breakfast dish. An unusually tasty flatbread in the center of which you can add various ingredients to suit every taste.
Kokis(Kokis) is a popular dessert dish. Its taste is similar to marmalade, but in appearance it is very similar to brushwood
.White rice with coconut milk - kiribath - deserves special attention from real gourmets. Kiribat is incredibly tasty without additives, but a completely different taste will surprise you if you try it with spicy snacks, for example, with a crushed mixture of hot red pepper, onion, lemon and spices - kattasambol. With coconut flakes and palm “honey”, kiribath becomes sweet.
Arak– amazingly tasty palm vodka.

Top 5 restaurants where you can try the national cuisine of the island:

DiyaSisila Restaurant(Elpitiya Road | Bentota - Adaganthota, Bentota 50800);
Malli's Seafood Restaurant(Beach Road | Opposite of Hotel The Surf, Bentota 80500);
Sun & Sea Restaurant(| Robolgoda, Bentota 80500);
Awanhala Beach Restaurant(Galle Road | Near the Railway Cross, Bentota 80500);
Bentota Rock Beach Restaurant(Aturuwella, Bentota 80500);

Top 5 restaurants where you can have a tasty and inexpensive meal:

Ocean View Restaurant(Robolgoda, Bentota, Bentota 80500);
Bamboo Shoot Restaurant(Yalegama Junction, Induruwa 12050);
Pub MachanBentota(357 Galle Road, Bentota 80500);
Barista Bentota(No 88 Welipenna Road, Aluthgama, Bentota., Bentota 80500);
The Red Fish - Sea Food Restaurant(200/1 Robolgoda, Galle Road, Bentota 80500);

Culture

Residents of Sri Lanka love to celebrate holidays, of which there are many on their calendar. The most important and revered holiday is the Ascension of the Holy Buddha tooth from Kandyan temple DaladaMaligawa. This celebration is celebrated at the same time as the festival EsalaPerahera, where a colorful procession is held. During the procession you can see torchbearers, beautifully painted temple elephants, dancers in national costumes and flag bearers. But this is only one of the many holidays in Sri Lanka. To enjoy the view and atmosphere of the holiday, it is worth attending the NavamPerahera celebration, which is celebrated on the shore beautiful lake Beira. Thousands of tourists and those wishing to participate in a colorful procession gather for such a holiday.
Festivals worth visiting include the New Year, which is celebrated on April 13-14, the Vel and Besak festivals in May, the Kataragama festival, which is held in July or August, and the Unduwap ​​festival in December. Almost all other holidays in Sri Lanka are celebrated in the same way as in other countries.
Every tourist visiting this country should know what not to do on the streets of Sri Lanka. It is considered disrespectful to the morals of the inhabitants of this island to take photographs in front of the sacred statue of Buddha, i.e. Don't turn your back on her. It is prohibited to photograph banks, strategic objects and government agencies. If you want to take a photo with a local resident, you need to ask him for permission so as not to lead the situation to a conflict.

What to do with yourself?

Sri Lanka is a paradise for tourists with different preferences: it is ideally suited for lovers of beach pleasures and connoisseurs of the ancient cultural history of the island.
Of course Sri Lanka will favorite place for lovers of surfing and diving. The resort of Hikkaduwa is famous for its steep waves, which should definitely be appreciated by true surfing enthusiasts. The same resort is also popular among divers. When you dive underwater you can admire the wealth underwater world, and also see the remains of a sunken ship.
Also on various resorts A variety of entertainment awaits: banana boat riding, water skiing, canoeing or scooter riding and much more.
Also, for those who want their wedding to be unusual and colorful, it is worth going to the Benton resort, where you can order an official wedding ceremony on the seashore or undergo a Ceylonese wedding ceremony.

How can you visit Sri Lanka and not ride elephants?! The resorts offer a variety of elephant activities: elephant riding; a drawing of an elephant's trunk; extraordinary massage.
Animal lovers will also have the opportunity to go on a sea safari on yachts to watch whales and release newly born turtles into the sea.
Having visited Sri Lanka You should definitely visit the famous Ayurvedic therapies, where you can enjoy traditional massage, meditation, yoga, and various types of psychotherapies. Feel all the color and diversity of the island.
And of course, a visit to Ceylon plantations, after which everyone will learn to distinguish the taste of green tea from white.
Holidays in Sri Lanka give you health, beauty and a great mood.

What is worth seeing?

Sri Lanka is rich in attractions. Both lovers of architecture and history, as well as connoisseurs of tropical nature, will find a lot of interesting things on the island.
Pilgrimage tours to Sri Lanka are interesting, since there are a lot of religious architectural monuments and monasteries in the country. Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharda One of the most popular places where many tourists come, it is an extremely beautiful and largest temple on the island. Many believers believe that this temple was consecrated by himself Buddha when I placed it. Golden Temple Dambulla, which contains the most a large number of Buddha statues.
On my journey to this amazing island definitely worth it see: the holy Adam's Peak (2243 meters), where, according to legends, a person first set foot after paradise; visit the rock with the footprints of Buddha; see the unusually beautiful Bo tree, under which the same Buddha once rested, visit ancient city Anuradhapura, home to numerous ancient monuments included in the UNESCO list. The country has many different parks where you can experience with your own eyes the full flavor of the animal world. It is worth a look at the Royal Botanical Garden in Paradenia. The garden is well known throughout the world for its rich plant collections. And be sure to take a walk through the wild jungle, where not only many wild monkeys live, but even leopards and cheetahs.

Tourists visiting the country?

Before visiting the country, you should know that the rainy season begins in Sri Lanka at the end of spring and until autumn. IN summer time rain can be avoided on the eastern part of the island. If in winter time vacation is impossible, then, knowing this information, any tourist will know where it is better to go during the hot season. And the southern or West Coast It is better to visit in the canopy or in winter.

Economic situation?

In the world economy, the island of Ceylon was associated with the production of tea, rubber, cinnamon and mining precious stones. The country is in 4th place in the world in tea production. Sri Lanka exports tea, rubber, coconuts, graphite, sapphires, rubies and other precious stones. Agriculture accounts for 20% of exports, with textiles being the main industry.

Political situation in the country?

The political situation in Sri Lanka is unstable. There are many military personnel on the streets, roadblocks are set up on the roads, railway stations and bus stations are fenced off. There are military personnel at the entrances who check the documents of all passengers. Some hotels, national parks and resort areas are protected by the national army.

Religious affiliation of the population?

The main religions are Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam. The majority of the inhabitants, the Sinhalese, profess Buddhism. Most of the Tamil population is Hindu. The Malays and Moors adhere to the Muslim religion. 7.6% are burghers and part of the Tamil and Sinhalese population who are Christians.

Customs rules and regulations?

The import and export of any amount of foreign currency is permitted. Large amounts must be declared. The import of national currencies of India and Pakistan is prohibited. The national currency of Sri Lanka (rupee) can be imported and exported from the country in limited quantities. Upon entry, a declaration of expensive items is required.

Duty-free import of 2 bottles of wine and 1.5 liters of spirits is allowed. Duty-free import of up to 200 cigarettes / 50 cigars / 250g of tobacco per person. Tobacco products that exceed import standards are declared and subject to duty. Foreign currency: amounts over $15,000 must be declared. Amounts over $5,000 must also be declared if you intend to take them out on your return flight. The import of Indian and Pakistani currencies is prohibited. A maximum value of 5,000 rupees is allowed. It is necessary to declare jewelry and jewelry to avoid any delays during export.
It is prohibited to import or export:
explosives, weapons, ammunition, piercing and cutting objects, drugs and psychotropic substances, pornography, materials ridiculing any faith.

Visa?

For a short-term visit to Sri Lanka for tourism purposes, business trips or for transit through the country, you must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). For other purposes of travel or for a long-term stay in the country, it is necessary to obtain other types of visas in advance.

Attractions?

Adam's Peak
The most visited attraction in Sri Lanka, which is sacred to 4 world religions.
Sigiriya is a picturesque mountain with a city built on top.
Mount Dambulla is a large religious complex located in the center of the island. This place is deeply appreciated by lovers of architecture and history, as there are unique cave temples, monasteries and other archaeological sites.
Kandy city - considered cultural capital island nation, is located right in the middle of Sri Lanka and is considered the cultural capital of the island nation.
The elephant nursery is home to babies who have been left without parents or have suffered from poachers. Here, elephant calves are raised, some are sent to zoos, and others are trained to work in Ceylon.
Tea industry Until 1839, tea was not grown in Ceylon. Only in 1839 did English colonialists bring tea bush seeds to the island. The father of the Ceylon tea industry is James Taylor. Due to its exceptional characteristics ceylon tea recognized as the best in the world and has maintained an excellent reputation for more than a century. Tea harvesting takes place throughout the year.

Holidays and festivals?

The main holidays in Sri Lanka are February 4 and Independence Day. In addition, a number of Buddhist, Muslim and Christian holidays are celebrated. Weekends, in addition to Saturday and Sunday, are full moon days - Roya Day, which are intended for meditation.

What attractions should you visit first?

Pinnawela - the kingdom of elephants
There is a wonderful elephant nursery in Pinnawala. That is why tourists are always taken here to meet our little brothers. You can watch the life of elephants. Moreover, the elephants here are of almost all ages: from four-month-old babies to adult, self-sufficient individuals.

Royal Botanic Garden
While exploring Kandy, tourists should definitely check out Peradeniya. It is here that the best Royal Botanical Garden in Asia is located.
Its beauty, like the skill of its designers, cannot be expressed in words.
Elephant nursery
Ceylon Island

Main tourist areas?

Main beach areas: Marawila, Waikkal, Negombo, Mount Lavinia, Wadduwa, Kalutara, Beruwella, Bentota, Induruwa, Kosgoda, Ahungalla, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Unawatuna, Koggala, Weligama, Dickwella, Tangalle, Hambantota, Trincomalee, Arugam Bay.
The main excursion areas: Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Mount Sigiriya, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa.

Tips?

Tipping in Sri Lanka is considered optional but encouraged, with coins tipped being considered ignorant, so it is best to leave a small denomination. Only in expensive hotels and restaurants a 10% service charge is already included in the bill. In a cafe, tips are usually 10% of the bill. Taxi drivers, maids and porters will also not refuse a small amount, which will express gratitude for good service.

Currency exchange?

It is better to exchange money at Colombo airport. The receipt received during the official currency exchange should be kept until the end of the trip. In this case, when departing from Colombo, the tourist will have the opportunity to convert back unspent money at the airport bank at the rate of purchase. Money can also be exchanged at any hotel and bank. Banks are open from 9:00 to 13:00 from Monday to Friday.
Large hotels and shops accept international credit cards for payment.

Opening hours for shops, bars, cafes, restaurants?

Shops in Sri Lanka are open according to the following schedule: on weekdays from 10:00 to 20:00, on Saturdays - from 9:30 to 13:00, on Sundays - rest. Many shops in resort areas are open much longer and are often open on weekends. Some stores, especially in the provinces, have their own opening hours. In most cases, bars and restaurants operate on their own schedule.

Popular resorts?

Colombo is one of the largest Central Asia sea ​​ports. There are five-star hotels, high-rise buildings, numerous souvenir shops, street markets and all kinds of temples.
South coast Negombo - popular place for fishing for exotic fish.
Kalutara - resort area in the southwest of the island, which is famous for its sports clubs.
Beruwela is located 56 km south of Colombo. Over the course of several years, new hotels appeared here and the tourism infrastructure was developed.
Bentota is a famous resort with many hotels, railroad station, a shopping center, shops, cafes and an open-air theater where masquerades and puppet shows take place.

Crime?

The situation with crime in Sri Lanka is better. There are very few serious crimes. Theft is the maximum that tourists can suffer from. Theft of personal items from rooms, pickpocketing, and theft from hotel safes do occur, so the necessary security measures should be taken. Robberies involving the snatching of bags, phones, and cameras occur extremely rarely.

The official name is the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajawadi Janarajaya). It is located in the southern part of Asia, on the island of the same name in the Indian Ocean, southeast of the Hindustan Peninsula. Area 65610 km2, population 19.58 million people. (2002). The official languages ​​are Sinhala and Tamil; English is the language of international communication. The capital is Colombo (642 thousand people, 2001). Administrative capital- Sri Jayewardenepura Kote (seat of Parliament). Public Holiday- Independence Day February 4 (since 1948). The monetary unit is the rupee.

Member of the British Commonwealth of Nations (since 1948), WTO (since 1948), UN (since 1955), SAARC (since 1985), etc.

Sights of Sri Lanka

Geography of Sri Lanka

It is located between 79°50' and 82°00' east longitude and 6°00' and 9°50' north latitude. Washed by the Indian Ocean. Length coastline 1340 km. OK. 80% of the territory is occupied by lowland and sometimes hilly plains (30-200 m above sea level). In the central and southern parts there is a stepped highland. The average height of the mountains is 1000-2000 m above sea level. The most high point islands - Mount Pidurutalagala (2524 m).

The main minerals: limestone, graphite, precious and semi-precious stones, coastal sea “black” sands (with ilmenite, rutile, zircon and monazite), phosphates, kaolin and other clays. The soils are red earth and lateritic, along the river valleys and along the coasts there are strips of alluvial soils.

The climate is tropical monsoon. Average annual temperature in the country +27°С. Temperature changes throughout the year are insignificant. The two main monsoon periods are summer and winter. On the southwestern slopes of the highlands, precipitation falls from 2500 to 5000 mm per year, on the southeastern slopes - from 1200 to 2000 mm. The rivers begin in the central highlands. The longest are Mahaveli Ganga (335 km) and Aruvi Aru (170 km).

OK. 1/3 of the territory is covered with forests. Natural forests of the humid zone remain only in the interior regions of the southwest. In the north and east there are secondary deciduous forests. The fauna is of the Indo-Malayan type, with an admixture of Madagascan species.

Population of Sri Lanka

Natural population growth in 1991-2002 decreased from 1.5 to 0.85%. The birth rate fell sharply (16.4%). Mortality 6.5‰, infant mortality 15.7 people. per 1000 newborns. Average life expectancy is 72.4 years. Because of civil war negative migration balance (more than 200 thousand Tamils ​​left for Western countries, more than 100 thousand went to India).

Women make up 50.8% of the population. The share of young people (under 15 years of age) is 25.6%. Urban population 22.8% (2000). Among the population over 15 years of age, St. 91.6% (2000).

74% of the population are Sinhalese, 18% are Tamils. The Sinhalese, who speak the Sinhalese language (belongs to the Indo-Aryan group of Indo-European languages), inhabit the western, central and southern regions of the country, and the Tamils, who speak the Ceylon dialect of the Tamil language (belongs to the southern group of Dravidian languages), inhabit the northern and eastern regions (a small part "Indian" Tamils ​​live in the central regions). OK. 7% of the population are the so-called. Ceylonese Moors (Muslims who claim Arab origin, but are apparently from South India). Burghers (descendants of Dutch settlers), Malays and other ethnic groups also live here. The oldest population is the extremely small Veddas.

OK. 70% of the population (Sinhalese) are Buddhists, 15% (Tamils) are Hindus, 8% (burghers, some Tamils, etc.) are Christians, 7% (Moors, Malays) are Muslims (2000).

History of Sri Lanka

The most ancient population were hunting tribes, the ancestors of the Veddas. The first Indo-Aryans appeared in the north of the island in the 5th century. BC. The city of Anuradhapura was founded, which later became the capital of the first major Sinhalese state union. King Devanampiya Tissa (250-207 BC) played a key role in these processes. Anuradhapura sought to extend its power to the entire island.

In the 9th century The Buddhist state was attacked by the Pandyas in the 10th century. - Cholov, who turned the island into their province for 75 years, the capital of which was Polonnaruwa. The Cholas were expelled (1070) by King Vijayabahu I, who reigned until 1110. Economic boom in the 2nd half. 12th century Replaced by constant civil strife in the 13th century. and raids of conquerors from India. The resettlement of the Sinhalese to the central and southwestern regions of the island began. A Tamil state appeared in the north - Jaffna. In the 15th century King Parakramabahu VI (1412-67) reunited the island, but after his death the country plunged into the abyss of civil strife.

To the beginning 16th century refers to the penetration of Portugal in the 17th century. Only the territory of the kingdom of Kandy remained beyond her control. In 1658, the Dutch defeated the Portuguese after a twenty-year war, after which they began to gradually seize more and more territories, waging war against Kandy. The Dutch East India Company monopolized trade in a wide range of goods. Reform of legislation and the legal system was carried out.

In 1802 Ceylon became a colony of Great Britain. To the beginning 1830s British authority was firmly established throughout the island. Plantation farming appeared, initially coffee farming, which became a catalyst for economic development. The socio-economic development of the country accelerated sharply, and capitalist development began, albeit one-sided. In 1864, the first national socio-political organization was created - the Ceylon League, which advocated expanding the participation of local residents in governing the country. In 1919, the first major political party appeared - the Ceylon National Congress. The Constitution of 1931, which provided for the creation of an elected parliament - the State Council and the introduction of universal suffrage, led to the emergence of the beginnings of representative government in the country. At the same time, the country was turned into an agricultural appendage of the metropolis, and the living conditions of local residents worsened.

In accordance with the Ceylon Independence Act of 1947, elections were held in the country, in which the United National Party (UNP), created in 1946 from a number of organizations, including the Ceylon National Congress, won the overwhelming majority of seats. Party leader D. S. Senanayake (1884-1952) was proclaimed prime minister. On February 4, 1948, a new Constitution came into force, granting Ceylon independence as a dominion.

The first government did not seek to radically eliminate the colonial legacy. In the sphere of foreign policy, it was largely oriented towards Great Britain. In 1951, the center-left, led by Solomon Bandaranaike, left the ranks of the UNP and created the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), which won the parliamentary elections of 1956. In 1958, agrarian reform began, the development of the public sector and industry, and important socio-economic transformations were carried out. A course was taken to strengthen relations with India, establish diplomatic relations with socialist countries, and pursued a policy of non-alignment (already in 1957 Great Britain was forced to close its military bases in Ceylon). Discriminatory measures against Tamils ​​have intensified in the economic and cultural spheres. In September 1959, Bandaranaike was assassinated. His widow Sirimavo Bandaranaike (1916-2000) achieved victory in the 1960 elections and became the world's first female leader of the country. Quite radical socio-economic transformations, including the nationalization of a number of objects owned by Western companies, and an alliance with leftist forces led to a government crisis. In 1965, the UNP returned to power (in alliance with other parties), which failed to resolve complex economic problems. In 1970, S. Bandaranaike returned to power in alliance with the communists and socialists. In 1971, ultra-left forces raised an armed uprising, which was hardly suppressed by the authorities. In 1972, a new Constitution was adopted, according to which a republic was proclaimed. Many provisions protecting minority rights were removed. The government failed to cope with inflation, rising unemployment and a deepening economic crisis. In 1977, the UNP, led by J.R., won the elections. Jayawardene. A policy was pursued towards economic liberalization, partial denationalization, and encouragement of private and foreign capital. A pro-Western foreign policy was pursued. In 1978, a new Constitution came into force, introducing a presidential form of government. Jayawardene became the country's first president. Re-elected in 1982.

Despite minor concessions to minorities, extremist and terrorist Tamil organizations emerged. In July 1983, the Sinhala-Tamil conflict escalated into a civil war, which by 2003 had claimed the lives of approx. 70 thousand people The dispatch of the Indian peacekeeping contingent to the island (1987-90) ended in failure. R. Gandhi and Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa died at the hands of Tamil militants.

The UNP's 17-year tenure in power ended in 1994. SLPP leader Chandrika Kumaratunga became president. Her mother, S. Bandaranaike, received the post of prime minister. In the 2001 parliamentary elections, the UNP won, led by the main political rival of the president, R. Wickremasinghe, who became prime minister. In February 2002, through the mediation of Norway, he signed a ceasefire agreement with the leaders of Tamil militants.

Government and political system of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka - free, sovereign, independent and democratic socialist republic, which is a unitary state.

Administratively, it is divided into 10 provinces: Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western, Northern and Eastern. The last two provinces were united to form the North-East in 1988, but in 1993 the provinces were again separated de jure. The provinces are divided into 25 districts.

The largest cities (2001, thousand people): Colombo, Dehiwala (210), Moratuwa (177), Negombo (122), Kotte (116), Jaffna (120, 1981), Kandy (110).

The form of government is a presidential republic. The highest legislative body is the unicameral parliament (National State Assembly). 225 deputies are elected for 6 years. The head of state is the president, who according to the Constitution is also the head of the executive branch, head of government and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. Has the right to dissolve parliament, appoints the prime minister (with the approval of parliament) and ministers from among members of parliament, and determines their functions. The term of office of the president is 6 years. Can only be elected to this post twice. The head of the highest legislative body is the speaker, who presides over meetings of parliament. His powers are very limited. The government (cabinet of ministers) is headed by the prime minister. There is a collective responsibility of the cabinet to parliament.

The right to vote is granted to all citizens who have reached the age of 18 and who have not committed serious crimes or been declared incompetent. The President and members of Parliament are elected on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot.

The province is headed by a governor appointed by the president for a term of 5 years. He has the right to dissolve the provincial council, which is elected by the population for a 5-year term. There are development councils at the district level. A number of council members are appointed by the central government, some are elected for a period of 4 years. Local authorities are city councils and village committees.

Elements of a two-party system emerged, and for half a century the main electoral battle was between the UNP and the SLPP (and their allies).

The main organization of the business community is the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, which is a member of the chambers of commerce and industry of the member countries of SAARC and the Asia-Pacific Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In 2000, there were 707 public organizations.

Sri Lanka is one of the organizers of the Non-Aligned Movement and a participant in all conferences of non-aligned countries. During the bipolar period, UNP governments maintained closer relations with Western countries, the LPSL government, while maintaining these ties, actively developed relations with the socialist camp. Of particular importance are neighboring countries. Since 1985, Sri Lanka has been actively involved in SAARC activities. Economic ties with developed countries play an important role. Since the outbreak of the civil war, the main thrust of foreign policy has been to end outside support for Tamil militants.

The armed forces (total strength 125 thousand people) are recruited. They consist of the Ground Forces (about 90 thousand people), the Air Force and the Navy. Defense expenses amounted to approx. 56 billion rupees (2001).

Sri Lanka has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR in 1957).

Economy of Sri Lanka

In 1997-2000, the annual growth rate of GDP was 5.3%, in 2001 1.4%, in 2002 4%. GDP is $16.2 billion (or $68 billion based on currency purchasing power), and per capita income is $3,530 (PPP). Sri Lanka's share in the world economy is small (0.15%).

In 2002, the economically active population included 5982.8 thousand people. (the share of men is 68.3%). Unemployed 12.4% (approx. 750 thousand). The unemployment rate among women and youth is high. The exploitation of child labor continues. The number of people employed in the public sector is 910 thousand people. In 2001, inflation was 13%, in 2002 - 8.1%.

In 2002, the manufacturing industry accounted for 18.1% of GDP, agriculture - 16.2%, transport and communications - 10.8%. In terms of employment, agriculture continues to occupy the main position (34% of the economically active population), in the manufacturing industry - 16.4%, in trade - 12.7%.

Main industries: agricultural processing, textile and clothing production, cement production, oil refining, tobacco industry.

Agriculture in Sri Lanka throughout history has been associated with the cultivation of rice (harvest in 2001 - 2695 thousand tons). During English colonial rule, plantation production of tea (295 thousand tons), coconuts (2905 thousand tons) and rubber (86 thousand tons) began to play a special role. The area under crops is not increasing. Livestock farming is less developed, and fish catch (more than 300 thousand tons) amounted to 12.2% of total agricultural production (2002).

Length of highways (public) - St. 11.3 thousand km, railways- 1463 km, of which 1346 km are single-track (2000). More than 1.7 million vehicles registered (2000). By rail more than 43 million people were transported, cargo - 1.2 million tons (2000). The ships transported more than 78 million tons of cargo. Main ports: Colombo, Galle and Trincomalee. 15 airports. international Airport- Katunayaka.

The main share of GDP comes from trade, restaurant and hotel businesses (25.1%, 2002). In 2002, the growth of the trade sector was 5.2%, the banking, insurance and real estate sector was 11%, and the private services sector was 4.2%. The number of tourists has fallen (in 2001 - 336.8 thousand people). They left in the country an amount exceeding $210 million.

Since 1977, the introduction of elements of a market economy began in Sri Lanka, and local and foreign capital was encouraged. Recently, the government has been reducing spending on subsidies to the population and increasing the share of funds allocated to infrastructure investments. Foreign trade has been liberalized and export-oriented production has been encouraged. Free trade zones have been created. A partial denationalization program was carried out. Private banks began to replace state-owned ones. The most dynamically developing sectors of the economy were the food industry, textile and clothing production, telecommunications, insurance and banking.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka was created in 1950 and is a semi-autonomous entity. Responsible for economic, financial and price stability, acts as an adviser to the government on economic issues, serves as its banker, provides funds to commercial banks, and establishes control over the exchange rate. Also plays the role of a catalyst for development, incl. rural areas.

Private consumption accounts for 71% of GDP, government spending 13%. In 2001, education, health and social security accounted for 15.5, 9.5 and 16% of government spending respectively. The bulk of government revenue comes from taxes on income - almost 70%, and the next most important source was taxes on production and expenses. Sri Lanka's external debt was estimated at US$9.9 billion (2000). 4.5% of GDP and 9.6% of exports were spent on debt servicing.

In 2002, the income of the 10% high-income group of the population (38.6% of all income of the population) was 22.7 times higher than the income of the 10% low-income group (1.7%). Incomes of the population vary greatly by employment, gender, age and education, between residents of rural and urban areas. Expenditures on food account for 43.8% of total expenses of the population, 15% are spent on housing, including utilities, and 7% on transport and communications. In 2000, 6.6% of the population had an income of less than $1 per day (in 1993 prices, based on PPP), 45.4% - less than $2. According to the national methodology, the share of the poor is 25%.

Foreign trade volume 905,848 million rupees (65% of GDP) (2001). Exports are significantly inferior to imports. The main export items are ready-made clothing (49% of exports in 2001), tea and other agricultural products, and precious stones. The main imports are textiles, engineering products, food products, and oil. The main exporters to Sri Lanka are China, Japan, India and Singapore. The main importers from Sri Lanka are the USA and Great Britain.

Science and culture of Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, lower secondary education is compulsory for children. In 2001, there were more than 4.3 million students, who accounted for more than 200 thousand teachers. There were 13 universities with more than 48 thousand students. The largest universities are in Peradeniya, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, Colombo.

Scientific activities are coordinated by the National Science Foundation under the Ministry of Economic Reform, Science and Technology. There are many research institutes engaged in fundamental research, problems of agriculture, and medicine. Important scientific centers are the universities of Sri Lanka.

Art in the classical period (3rd century BC - 12th century) developed primarily in the capitals - Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Architecture and painting were primarily associated with Buddhism. The gigantic stupas, more than 100 m high, built in Anuradhapura in the 3rd-5th centuries, are still preserved. The frescoes in Sigiriya depicting apsaras (5th century) are famous. From the 8th century Buddhist temples become less monumental, acquiring complete harmony in Polonnaruwa. The construction of giant Buddha statues continued. Many secular sculptures, buildings of royal palaces, and Hindu temples have been preserved. The most outstanding work of painting of the Middle Ages is considered to be the wall paintings in the Jetavana Monastery (Polonnaruwa, 12-13 centuries). From ser. 13th century a period of cultural decline begins. The religious revival caused the emergence of the Kandyan style of painting (18-19 centuries). From the end 19th century professional easel art was born.

Since 1948, painting and architecture have been actively developing, combining national traditional and modern European cultures. Along with the preservation of the folk theater, modern views theatrical art.

The most ancient works of literature - "Deepavansa" (4th century AD) and "Mahavansa" (5th century) - were written in Pali. Along with myths and legends they contain historical facts. In the 5th-6th centuries. A huge commentary literature appears in Pali. The most famous authors are Buddhaghoshi, author of the encyclopedia of Buddhism “Visuddhimagga”; Buddhadatta, author of five manuals to the canon; Dhammapala. A new flowering of Pali literature occurred in the 12th century.

The oldest literary works in the Sinhala language date back to the turn of the 9th-10th centuries. From this period, literature developed primarily in this language. The 13th century is considered the golden age. (“The Sea of ​​Nectar” and “The Lamp of Buddhist Teaching” by Gurulugomi; “The Refuge of the Buddha” by Vidyachakravarti and especially “The Garland of Jewels of True Faith” by Dharmasena). One of the best works of Sinhala poetry, “The Pearl of Poetry,” appeared, written by King Parakramabahu II (1236-70). A particularly significant work of the 14th century. is the Ornament of True Religion by Jayabahu Dharmakirti. From the 15th century The gradual decline of Sinhala prose begins, but poetry flourishes. They highlight “The Diadem of Poetry” (1450) by Sri Rahul, the author of a number of other relatively secular poetic works; “The Poem of Guttila” by Vetteve. From the beginning 17th century There is also a decline in Sinhala poetry.

From the end 19th century the development of Sinhala non-religious prose begins (Vimala and Love Letter by Albert Silva, Meena by Simon Silva). The greatest writer is Martin Wickremasinghe (1891-1976), author of the famous trilogy “The Changing Village”, “The Last Century” and “The End of the Century”. Significant works were created by Gunadedas Amarasekara (Born Again and Legless), Ediriweera Sarachandra (The Tired One Sees No Way, All Souls' Day), K. Jayatilleke (An Unpleasant Story) and Siri Gunna-singhe (The Shadow ").

From the end 19th century Sri Lankan literature in Tamil and English begins to develop as an independent language.

Located south of the Hindustan Peninsula between 5"54" and 9"52" northern latitude, 800 km. from the equator. The northern and central parts of the island are located in the subequatorial, and South part

in equatorial zones. The total area is 65,610 sq. km, the length from north to south is 445 km, and from west to east 225 km. According to geologists, the island repeatedly rose from the water and sank again. Over many centuries, displacement of geological layers formed hills, mountains and gorges. The main part of the island is occupied by a plain, the height of which rarely exceeds 100 m above sea level.
In the center of the island is the Central Mountain Range. The average height of the mountains is 1000-2000 m above sea level, but some peaks rise higher. The highest point of the island - Mount Pidurutalagala has a height of 2524 m, then Kirigalpotta - 2395 m, Totopolakanda - 2357 m. However, the most famous is the majestic Adam's Peak (Sri Pada) - 2243 m. Many rivers of Sri Lanka flow from these mountains. The largest river, the Mahaweli Ganga (335 km.), originates near Adam's Peak and flows into

Indian Ocean in eastern Sri Lanka near Trincomalee. Other rivers are Malvanuna Oya - 164 km, Kelani Ganga - 145 km. The only river that does not originate in the mountains, Kala Oya - 148 km, flows from the ancient giant reservoir Kalaveva, built in the 5th century AD. Many rivers are navigable. Where there are mountains and rivers, there are also waterfalls. The 212 meter high Coslanda Bride Vale, the Bridal Veil, is one of the tallest single-spout waterfalls in the world. Babarakanda Waterfall - 241 m. The highest cascade on the island. East Coast Sri Lanka is hundreds of kilometers of continuous snow-white beaches , clear turquoise ocean, coral reefs and huge diversity in, Anilana Nilaveli, Pigeon Island Beach Resort from which you can visit unique places for diving and snorkeling, daily excursions are organized to coral island. 14% of the island's territory is occupied by national parks, nature reserves and reservations. The largest of them are Yala National Park (309 km from Colombo), Udawalawe National Park (170 km from Colombo), Wasgamuwa National Park (200 km from Colombo), Wilpatu National Park (176 km from Colombo) and National Park Bundala Park (260 km from Colombo).

The southwest coast of Sri Lanka is uninterrupted golden beaches, hotels and small towns- such as Negombo, Marawila, Mount Lavinia, Wadduwa, Kalutara, Beruwela, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Tangalle. The atmosphere of the resort reigns throughout - blue ocean, golden sand, coconut trees, chic and cheap hotels. The capital of Sri Lanka is the city

The point is that, regardless of the season and location of the resort, there are always many more sunny and hot days on the island, so you can relax there in both summer and winter. It’s not without reason that the state is called paradise on Earth – geography of sri lanka amazes with its diversity and richness: there are also high mountains, and gentle hills and narrow gorges. Geologists explain this phenomenon by the fact that for millions of years the island either sank under the waters of the Indian Ocean or rose out.

The water washed away the rocks of the island, forming its surface. In the middle of the island there is a colorful mountain range, and the rest are quiet lowlands and beautiful coastal areas washed by the sky-blue ocean. This helped develop tourism sri lanka to a high level.

Sri Lanka time

Sri Lanka is located at 800 km. from the equator and 180 degrees from the Prime Meridian. Therefore – UTC +6. By time Sri Lanka is two hours ahead of Moscow, and three hours ahead of Kyiv. When calculating time, transition to other time modes should be taken into account.

Climate of Sri Lanka

Proximity to the equator and unusual geography greatly influenced . The center and north of Sri Lanka are located in the subequatorial zone, and the eastern and western parts are in the equatorial zone. The island is protected from temperature changes by a mountain range that stops gusts of wind, so it is warm here all year round. This idyll is overshadowed only by the summer rainy season, which lasts from June to August. The rest of the time the weather is hot, dry and calm.

Sri Lanka weather

Throughout the year, the temperature ranges from +27 to + 30. Temperature fluctuations in the hottest and coldest months do not exceed 5 degrees. Sri Lanka weather in cities it is characterized by high humidity, while the coast is more comfortable for relaxation due to the influence of the ocean.

Nature of Sri Lanka

The climatic zones and geography of the island determine its lush flora and fauna. In the green jungle, entwined with vines and orchids, you can meet exotic animals with incredibly bright colors. There you can meet monkeys, lemurs, huge insects and birds. As soon as the sun sets, predators enter the arena of the animal world - tigers, lions and leopards. Nature of Sri Lanka preserved thanks to careful Buddhist traditions, which helped protect such a rare species as wild elephants.

Sri Lanka is located in South Asia and is an island. The island of Sri Lanka is washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean and its Bay of Bengal. It is separated from Hindustan by the Gulf of Manara and the Palk Strait, 50 km wide. T.N. Adam's Bridge - a chain of islands in the Palk Strait - once completely connected Sri Lanka with the mainland, but, according to chronicles, was destroyed by an earthquake around 1481. The island is 350 km long, its width is 180 km at its widest part, and it is the same size as Tasmania or Ireland.

The state of Sri Lanka is located between 5`54` and 9`52` northern latitude, 800 km. from the equator. The northern and central parts of the island are in the subequatorial zone, and the southern part is in the equatorial zone. The total area is 65,610 sq. km, the length from north to south is 445 km, and from west to east 225 km. According to geologists, the island repeatedly rose from the water and sank again. Over many centuries, displacement of geological layers formed hills, mountains and gorges. The main part of the island is occupied by a plain, the height of which rarely exceeds 100 m above sea level.

In fact, the capital is Colombo (the seat of government and the main institutions of the country are located here), while the official suburb of Colombo is Sri Jaya-Vardenapura (Jayawardenapura-Kotte), where the country's legislative bodies and a number of administrative organizations are located.

Relief of Sri Lanka

In the center of the island is the Central Mountain Range. The average height of the mountains is 1000-2000 m above sea level, but some peaks rise higher. The highest point of the island - Mount Pidurutalagala has a height of 2524 m, then Kirigalpotta - 2395 m, Totopolakanda - 2357 m. However, the most famous is the majestic Adam's Peak (Sri Pada) - 2243 m.

Many rivers of Sri Lanka flow from these mountains. The largest river, the Mahaweli Ganga (335 km), originates near Adam's Peak and flows into the Indian Ocean in the east of Sri Lanka near Trincomalee. Other rivers are Malvanuna Oya - 164 km, Kelani Ganga - 145 km. The only river that does not originate in the mountains, Kala Oya - 148 km, flows from the ancient giant Kalaveva reservoir, built in the 5th century AD. Many rivers are navigable. Where there are mountains and rivers, there are also waterfalls. At 212 metres, Coslanda Bride Vale, the Bridal Veil, is one of the tallest single-spout waterfalls in the world. Babarakanda Waterfall - 241 m. The highest cascade on the island.

The east coast of Sri Lanka has hundreds of kilometers of uninterrupted white beaches, clear turquoise ocean, coral reefs and a huge variety of flora. In the northeast, 6-12 km. from Trincomalee Bay, there are two cozy hotels - Club Oceanic and Nilaveli Beach Hotel, from which you can visit unique places for diving and snorkeling, daily excursions to the coral island of Pigeon are organized. 14% of the island's territory is occupied by national parks, nature reserves and reservations. The largest of them are Yala National Park (309 km from Colombo), Udawalawe National Park (170 km from Colombo), Wasgamuwa National Park (200 km from Colombo), Wilpatu National Park (176 km from Colombo) and National Park Bundala Park (260 km from Colombo).

The southwest coast of Sri Lanka is continuous with golden beaches, hotels and small towns - such as Negombo, Marawila, Mount Lavinia, Wadduwa, Kalutara, Beruwela, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Galle. The atmosphere of the resort reigns throughout - blue ocean, golden sand, coconut palms, chic and inexpensive hotels. The capital of Sri Lanka is the city of Colombo, located in the western part of the island, on the ocean.

Minerals of Sri Lanka

The ancient Precambrian shield, which lies at the base of the Deccan Plateau of Hindustan, continues in the depths of Sri Lanka. Among its crystalline rocks lie many minerals. The most famous are deposits of high-quality crystalline graphite, in terms of reserves of which Sri Lanka ranks first in the world.

Deposits of phosphorites and mica are being developed. In some coastal areas, large areas are occupied by black monazite sands containing rare and radioactive elements. Locals They use laterite for building houses, which is formed during the weathering of crystalline rocks containing compounds of aluminum and iron (the latter give laterites their brick-red color). Laterite is easily cut into bricks, which quickly become hard in air.

Sri Lanka is famous for its precious stones: rubies, sapphires, topazes, amethysts. As the ancient chronicle “Mahavamsa” testifies, many kings and sultans in other countries decorated their crowns with these stones mined on the island. Centuries of predatory exploitation have led to the depletion of rich deposits, but the extraction of precious stones still continues.

The country is searching for oil, and Soviet geologists also took part in it in the 1970s. According to experts, there are sedimentary structures promising for oil on the Sri Lankan shelf. Since the 80s, exploration work began in the shelf zone, for which the state oil corporation of Sri Lanka entered into long-term contracts with companies in the USA and Canada. There is an agreement with the Indian Oil and Natural Gas Commission on joint exploration work.

Inland waters of Sri Lanka

Plain rivers are short, mountain rivers have great hydroelectric potential. The water in most rivers is warm. The largest rivers are Mahaweli-Ganga, Kelani, Kalu, Aruvi-Aru.

Mahaweli Ganga - largest river in Sri Lanka. Length 335 km. It originates in the central province. Its basin is the largest in the country, covering almost one fifth of the total area islands. The river reaches the Bay of Bengal on the northwestern part of the island. 6 hydroelectric dams were built on the river.

Climate of Sri Lanka

The climate in Sri Lanka is subequatorial and equatorial monsoon, greatly complicated by the topography and the general orientation of the island from north to south. The average annual temperature on the plains is about +29-31°C (seasonal variations are insignificant), in the mountainous part - from +16°C to +24°C. The sea water temperature is above +25°C all year round.

Air humidity is high and almost always remains above 75%. Precipitation ranges from 1000 (northern and eastern regions) to 5000 ( southwest coast) mm per year. The rainy season occurs from May to September (southwest monsoon) and October to April (northeast monsoon), but these periods often have different time frames in different areas of the island.

Flora and fauna of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's natural environment contains many unique species and is considered one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world. The level of endemism of animals and plants in Sri Lanka is 16% of the total fauna and 23% of the flowering flora. The flora of Sri Lanka is diverse and has a high degree of endemism. It includes 3,210 species of flowering plants from 1,052 genera. 916 species and 18 genera are endemic to the island. There are 8 types of forests in Sri Lanka.

In the southwest, at the foot of the mountains and on their slopes, in some places, dense moist equatorial forests with a huge variety of vegetation types (ebony, teak, silk tree, fruit trees) have been preserved. Along the northwestern and southeast coasts Thorn bushes grow, and sometimes there are mangrove forests and coconut palms.

Fauna. Sri Lanka is home to 91 species, 41 of which are endangered (9 critically endangered). 16 species are endemic to the island, of which 14 are endangered, including the sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), the endemic Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) and Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus), and the Indian sambar deer (Cervus unicolor). Among the 11 orders, the largest number of species belongs to the order Chiroptera (30 species). In surrounding Sri Lanka sea ​​waters There are 26 species of the order Cetaceans.

Sri Lanka is home to: 227 species of birds (previously up to 486 species were recorded), 46 of which are endangered (10 critically endangered); 171 species of reptiles live in Sri Lanka, of which 56 are endangered and 101 species endemic to the island (mainly snakes). And the largest species are represented by two crocodiles: the Swamp crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) and the Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus).

Sri Lanka is one of the most species-diverse regions in the world for the class Amphibians. It is home to 106 species of amphibians, of which 90 are endemic to the island and this is the highest species density for amphibians in the world. 52 species are threatened with extinction, almost all of them (except one) are endemic.

There are 82 species of freshwater fish found in Sri Lanka, of which 28 are endangered. Butterflies are represented on the island by 245 species, of which 23 are endemic and cannot be found anywhere else. 76 species are threatened with extinction, especially the species Pachliopta jophon.

Population of Sri Lanka

Population - 21.3 million (estimated as of July 2009). Annual growth - 0.9%. Birth rate - 16.2 per 1000 (fertility - 1.99 births per woman); Mortality - 6.1 per 1000; Emigration - 1.1 per 1000; Infant mortality - 18.5 per 1000; Average life expectancy is 73 years for men, 77 years for women.

Sinhalese constitute about 75% and Tamils ​​about 18% of the population, mainly in the northern and eastern regions. There are also Sri Lankan Moors (Larakalla - descendants of Arabs) - about 7%, burghers (descendants of mixed marriages with Europeans) - about 0.3%, Veddas (descendants of the oldest population of the island) - about 1 thousand people.

About 70% of the population (mainly Sinhalese) profess Buddhism, 15% Hinduism (Tamils), 8% Christianity, 7% Islam (Lankan Moors). Literacy - 92% of men, 89% of women (according to the 2001 census).

Official languages ​​are Sinhala and Tamil, widely spoken English language. The national-ethnic composition generally corresponds to the religious affiliation of the population: Buddhism is professed by about 70% (mainly Sinhalese), Hinduism - by more than 17% (mainly Tamils), Islam and Christianity - by approximately 8% each (Moors, burghers, etc.) . Largest cities: Colombo, Moratuwa, Galle, Trincomalee, Jaffna, Kandy.

Source - http://travellanka.ru/geografia.html
http://ru.wikipedia.org/
http://www.shri-lank.ru/